Keralan Adventure - Superior Tour

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The Experience

Exotic, rich and lush, the southern Indian state of Kerala is the emerald jewel in India's crown. Blessed with a clement climate and fertile soil, the region's network of sleepy backwaters crisscross a verdant tropical landscape of rice paddies and coconut groves.

Explore the 'Venice of the east' by boat, visit bucolic villages, take a trip to Munnar Tea Plantation, relax on beautiful Kovalam beach, and immerse yourself in pristine nature on this amazing superior tour.

Selected dates between 10-Jul-2017 and 31-Oct-2018; Based on a 7 night stay leaving from Heathrow

Included flights

UK Departure

Departs: london

Arrives: cochin, India

Return Flight

Departs: thiruvananthapuram, India

Arrives: london

Day 2 to 9

Keralan Adventure - Superior Tour

4 stars

As Per Itinerary

As Per Itinerary

This tour explores the scenic canals, lakes and waterways of Kerala in southern India. See the historic churches and palaces of the capital Kochi, enjoy an evening 'Kathakali Dance' performance, visit a tea plantation near Munnar, then sit back and relax as you cruise the backwaters of Kerala on board a traditional Kettuvallam. Discover the distinctive charm, rich culture and natural beauty of Kerala on this fascinating Indian holiday.

Today you will arrive at Cochin airport. Upon arrival at Cochin, you will be assisted and transferred to the Hotel.

Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.

In the evening, you will be taken to a Kathakali dance centre where you will witness the most elaborate of the dance forms in southern India. Here you will witness the artists readying themselves up with the make up for the final performance.

Overnight at the hotel in Cochin.

DAY 2 - Cochin - Munnar

After breakfast you will proceed for half day sightseeing tour of Cochin City.

Your city tour will begin with the visit to Mattancherry and visit the oldest Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Fridays Saturdays & All Jewish holidays) in India, built in 1568; it was destroyed by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Dutch a century later. You will also visit The Dutch Palace - which was built in 1555 and its coronation hall and murals at Ramayana are noteworthy features. Your next stop will be St. Francis Church, originally named after Santo Antonio and dedicated to him as the Patron Saint of Portugal, St. Francis Church is the first church to have been in the new European influenced tradition. Originally a wooden building was replaced by the present stone building. Vasco De Gamma died on the site in 1524 and was originally buried in the cemetery. 14 years later his body was removed to Portugal. The church was renamed St. Francis in 1663.

Later you will be driven from Cochin to Munnar. On arrival proceed for check-in at your hotel.

DAY 3 - Munnar - Thekkady

Morning post breakfast, proceed to visit Tea museum. Later you will be driven Munnar to Thekkady.

Upon arrival proceed for check-in at hotel. Later in the afternoon proceed for boat ride in Lake Periyar.

Periyar is South India's most popular wildlife sanctuary, encompassing an area of 777 sq. km. Set on the attractive man-made Periyar Lake; it attracts over 300,000 visitors a year. Though the sanctuary was made a part of Project Tiger in 1973, it is better known for its elephants.

Overnight at the hotel, Thekkady

DAY 4 - Thekkady

In the morning proceed for a guided walk through spice plantation to see the cultivation of cardamom, pepper, vanilla and coffee.

In the afternoon proceed for common boat ride at the Lake Periyar. The Periyar Tiger Reserve and National Park - Established in 1934 as the Nelliampatty Sanctuary, the park was enlarged in 1950 and is India's southernmost tiger reserve. The lake covers some 10 sq. miles and most of the sanctuary is undulating. Since boat travel is the only means of transport in the park, large areas can be covered in a short time. Among the game found here are gaur (the largest of the world's wild oxen), elephant, wild pig, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, the rare and endangered lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri langur, the common langur and the bonnet macaque, porcupine, Malabar squirrel, wild dog and tiger.

Overnight at the hotel, Thekkady

DAY 5 - Thekkady - Kumarakom

Post breakfast you will be driven to Kumarakom.

In the lush backwaters of Kottayam in Kerala, lies a veritable paradise, which is called Kumarakom, or the 'Venice of the East'. Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields, and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals are panoramic sights one can never forget. Kumarakom is Kerala's heartland of lagoons, palm fringed lakes, and paddy fields, inter-linked with hundreds of winding canals, and with the typical low slung country boats that carry everything from people to fish, rice and coconuts to the milkman and newspaper boy, local politicians and priests to wedding parties.

Upon arrival proceed to check in at your hotel

Remainder of day is free for relaxation. Lie in a hammock on this lakeshore, and allow your senses to possess you.

Overnight at the hotel, Kumarakom

DAY 6 - Kumarakom - Alleppey

After breakfast you will board houseboat from hotel jetty point for overnight stay.

Climb aboard the traditional kettuvallams (riceboats) converted into houseboats with bedrooms and attached toilets. Originally these boats were used as ferries to carry rice. Cruise through the backwaters of Kerala. Houseboat is one of the 50 "must do" things as described by the National Geographic Traveller magazine. The backwater cruise through the narrow canals that criss-cross a typical Kerala Village, rich with green paddy fields and verdant coconut trees and is a thrilling experience. The boat cruise takes you to small islets tucked away amidst those waters where you get glimpses of village at the best of its serenity and innocence. Lunch and dinner will be served on board.

Overnight onboard Houseboat

DAY 7 - Alleppey - Kovalam

Breakfast is on board houseboat. Disembark houseboat and drive to Kovalam

Upon arrival proceed to check in at your hotel following that remainder of the day is at leisure.

Looking inland from the blue waters of the Arabian Sea, the Kovalam shoreline appears as a gently curving beach fringed by tall swaying palms. Kovalam is situated just outside Trivandrum and is so perfect a beach; it's almost a picture postcard cliche: age old black rocks, towering palms, sands and gentle surf. On the long beach are natural enclaves made by the rocks that rise from almost the sea line.

Overnight at the hotel, Kovalam

DAY 8 - India Holiday Extension or Fly Home

After an early breakfast, proceed with your chosen extension or transfer to Trivandrum Airport and connect with the return flight to the UK.

The Holiday Place customer rating

Excellent tour, our main driver Aji Joseph was great, very safe and adapted our tour as per our wishes. I'm not a great shopper so we did more sight seeing along the journey. The scenery is stunning and overnight in a houseboat was a magical experience even with a rain storm. Everything ran very...